DARPA wants your help creating space robots

AILA the humanoid robot could help astronauts in
space.YouTube/ DFKI
Video

The government is looking to build new robots for space missions
and it is asking the public for help.

DARPA, the research arm of the military, is currently accepting
proposals for robot concepts that are capable of anticipating and
responding to the "quickly evolving needs" that occur in space as
part of its Robotics Fast Track (RFT) program.

Those interested can also submit designs for robots intended for
maritime, air, and ground operations.

The RFT is looking for designs that can "achieve breakthrough
capabilities" in less time and at a lower cost than typical
government-supported robotics projects, according to the
RFT website.

The RFT effort is being run by the Open Source Robotics
Foundation, a non-profit organization, and BIT Sytems, an
engineering group. DARPA is the official sponsor of the project.

Submissions will be evaulated by their scientific merit, their
relevance to DARPA's mission, and cost realism. On the DARPA
website, the organization makes its mission clear: "For more than
fifty years, DARPA has held to a singular and enduring mission:
to make pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies for
national security."

Those who are selected should expect to begin work on the project
within 10 days of notification.